Getting a flu shot hurts. For children, the experience can be especially difficult; and, when the pain hits, it can seem like it will never go away.
But, it does go away. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the pain from a flu shot (or any vaccine injection) should begin to subside quickly, and it should be completely gone within a few days at most. If it does not, this could be a sign of a flu shot injury, and it may be necessary to seek medical treatment for your child.
What To Do if Your Child is Complaining of Pain After a Flu Shot
Pain that lasts more than a few days or that is worse than the pain normally associated with a vaccine injection may indicate the need for medical treatment. This pain may not be associated with your child’s immunization, but rather with a mistake during the injection or an adverse reaction to the flu shot.
While they are rare in terms of the number of flu shots administered in the United States, mistakes during vaccination are more common than they should be. These mistakes can lead to a class of injuries known as shoulder injuries related to vaccine administration (SIRVA), and these injuries can cause severe pain and other symptoms.
In addition to SIRVA, flu shots can also lead to conditions including Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) and Parsonage-Turner Syndrome. Both of these have the potential to be serious, and they can cause pain, muscle weakness, loss of motor control, dizziness and a variety of other symptoms.
With all of this in mind, if your child is complaining of pain after a flu shot, you should:
- Consult with your family’s doctor. Your family’s doctor should be able to tell you if your child’s pain is consistent with that normally associated with a flu shot, or if it may be indicative of a vaccine-related injury or illness. Different injuries and illnesses have different symptoms (in addition to pain), so it will be important for you to help your child explain his or her symptoms as clearly as possible.
- Seek emergency medical treatment if necessary. If you are concerned about your child’s health or safety, you should not hesitate to seek emergency medical treatment. You do not need to talk to your family’s doctor first.
- Consult with a vaccine lawyer. The financial and non-financial costs associated with flu shot injuries can be significant, and there is a federal government program that provides payment to families of children diagnosed with these injuries. An experienced vaccine lawyer can tell you if your family is entitled to payment under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP).
Request a Free Consultation with Vaccine Lawyer Leah V. Durant
If your child has been diagnosed with a flu shot injury, we encourage you to contact us for a free consultation about your family’s legal rights. To speak with national vaccine lawyer Leah V. Durant in confidence, call 202-800-1711 or request an appointment online today.
Leah Durant Bio
Experienced litigation attorney Leah Durant focuses on representing clients in complex vaccine litigation matters. Leah Durant is the owner and principal attorney of the Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC, a litigation firm based in Washington, DC. Leah Durant and her staff represent clients and their families who suffer from vaccine-related injuries, adverse vaccine reactions and vaccine-related deaths. The Law Offices of Leah V. Durant, PLLC is dedicated to assisting individuals in recovering the highest level of compensation as quickly and efficiently as possible. To learn more, contact vaccine attorney Leah Durant today.
Categories: Flu Vaccine
Leah Durant 
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